Pipe coupling



0a. 12, 1948. F FENLON, 2,451,437

PIPE COUPLING Filed Jan. 25, 1946 INVENTOR $6 h/EFen/lon/ I A'TT RNEY Patented Oct. 12, 1948 PIPE COUPLING Hugh Francis Fenlon, Pelham, N. Y., assignor of one-half to John J. Dougherty, St. Albans,

Application January 25, 1946, Serial No. 643,240

Claims. 1

My invention relates to flexible couplings intended primarily for fluid distribution systems of the portable or temporary type.

The main object is to provide a simple and inexpensive but effective coupling which can be readily effected in the field without the use of tools.

One object is to ensure a tight joint which can be assembled at various angles of pipe alignment.

Another object is to provide a joint which will withstand great pressure in the line.

Another object is to provide a coupling, the parts of which can be readily separated.

Another object is to provide a joint which will provide uniform pressure on the gasket at all angular connections.

Another object is to provide .a. coupling that cannot be joined at an angular alignment greater than that which will provide adequate sealing.

Another object is to provide a handle for dragging, pullin or carrying a length of pipe and for drawing together preparatory to fastening.

Fig, 1 is a side view of a coupling involving my invention, the parts of the joints being turned out of alignment. This shows the clamping devices in dotted lines in the position they occupy when ready to draw the pipe sections together, and in full lines at they appear when the pipe sections have been coupled together tightly.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view and partial section showing the sections coupled together.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the pipe sections of Fig. 1 without the clamping device.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the pipe sections, with the clamping links attached.

Fig. 5 is a plan and partial section of the other pipe section.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the latter pipe section.

The parts of the joint involving the invention are the pipe sections I and 2 which may be formed of sheet metal, forgings or castings. These are part of or secured or connected, in any suitable manner, to pipe or hose sections 3 and 4 of any length,

Section I has a bulbous enlargement or head 5 of approximately spherical form which fits or extends into the enlarged collar 8 of section 2. A resilient gasket 1 of approximately wedge-like cross-section is located within the collar 6 and surrounds the head 5 when the parts are assembled.

Section I has two oppositely projecting hearing bolts, pins or studs 8, 8 integral with or suitably secured to it and located in the head 5.

v Section 2 has corresponding notches 9, 9 adapted to receive the pins or studs 8, 8 when the parts are assembled. Section 2 has two studs, pins or bolts l0, III on opposite sides in longitudinal alignment with the notches 8, 9.

The clamping device has two links II, [I and a lever having side arms l2, l2 with a cross piece l3 constituting a handle. The links are hinged to the studs 8, 8 and to the bolts or pins l4, l4 carried by the lever arms [2, 12.

When the pipe sections are drawn together, the clamping lever is moved from the position shown dotted in Fig. 1 to the full line position during which movement the hook-like ends l5, l5 of the lever arms are inserted to engage the studs l0, Ill. The notches 9, 9, in the section 2, are in alignment with the studs l0, l0 and serve to properly position the two sections when assembled. This ensures the proper positioning both of the hook-like ends l5, 15 of the clamping lever on the opposite sides of the pipe so as to properly align the pipe sections. The lever handle has a stop l6 which strikes the pipe section 4 to limit the closing movement of the lever. The studs 8 and ID are in alignment when the pipe sections are clamped together. The clamping lever is designed to carry the hinge pins l4, l4 slightly past the line of center of studs 8, 8 and l0, 10 so as to produce a toggle action and thus lock the parts together.

In order to limit the angle of alignment of the pipe sections at a position which will assure suilicient bearing of the head 5 against the gasket 1, I provide shoulders l1, I! which may be suitably formed as a part of or attached to the section I' where they will serve as stops or abutments for the end 18 of the section collar 6.

One of the important features of the handle is that in its locked position the direction of pressure of the union is approximately along the axis of the pipes or only slightly off because of the travel just past dead center. This produces substantially equal pressure all around the gasket.

By this arrangement, it will be seen that the sections may be drawn tightly together and that the joint will be tight because of the fitting of the spherical head 5 against the gasket 1. It also permits considerable angular divergence of the sections which is quite important in laying a conduit along uneven ground. Fluid pressure within the conduit tends to force the gasket into tight engagement between the bulbous head and the surrounding collar. It is also easy to separate the pipe sections by simply lifting the handle so 3 as to break the toggle connection whereupon the sections are free to separate.

I claim: 1. A pipe coupling comprising a section having oppositely projecting studs near its end, a second section having an enlarged end embracing the end of the other section and having open notches in its enlargedend to receive said studs and studs projecting from its opposite sides in line with said open notches, a pair of links hinged to said firsttween their ends to said links and having means at one end of each adaptable to interlock with mentioned studs, a pair of lever arms hinged be-' lever having a pair of arms hinged between their ends to said links and having means at one end of the studs on the second-mentioned section and means for limiting the movement of said lever arms when the hinges 'of said levers pass the center lines of the respective studs. a

2. A pipe coupling comprising a section having oppositely projecting studs near its end, a second" section having an enlarged end embracing the end of the other section and having open notchesi'n the'opposite sidesfiof. its enlarged end to receive said studs and studs projecting from its opposite sldesin line with it: opennotches, .a pair of links hinged to said first-mentionedstuds, a pair of lever arms hinged between their ends to-s'aid links and having means atone end of each adaptable toengage the studscn the second mentioned section ,andmeans for limiting the ,movement of said lever arms when thehinges of said lever pass the center lines of the respective studs and means for limiting the angular movement of one section with respect to the other about the axis oi the first nientioncd studs. V, V .7 i1

8. A pipe coupling comprising a section. having a spheroidal head to one end withoppositely pro.- jecting axial studs, a second section having an enlarged end embracing the spheroidal end of the other section and having open notches in its enlarged end to receive said studs and other studs projecting from its opposite sides in line with said open-"notches, a wedge-likegasket secured, in

the enlarged end, apair of links hinged to said first-mentione'dstuds'a lever having apair of lever arms hinged between theirends to said links and having means at one end of each adapt able to interlock with'the studs on the secondmentionedsection te'draw the wedge-like gasket secured in the enlarged end of the outer sectionjto form a 'seal against the spheroidal head of the inner section to ensure asubstantially uniform pressure at various anglesand means for limiting the angular movement of one section with respect to the other about an axis passing through the first-mentioned studs.

i A pipe coupling comprising a section having a spheroidal head at one end with studsprojecteach arm adapted to engage the studs on the second-mentioned section so as to produce a clamping action along the approximate center line of the second-mentioned section and react along the center line of the first mentioned section and avoid thrusts between the sections normal to the plane of the projecting studs and means for limiting the angular movement of one section with respect'torthe 'other'about an axis passing 'through 'the "first lmentioned :studs.

5. A pipe coupling comprising one pipe section having anenlarg'ed end with a socket and studs projecting from opposite sides and a second section having abiulbous end adapted to snugly fit within the socket of the other section at various angles'and having outwardly projecting studs, a link hinged to each stud on one section, the edges of the's'ocket in one-section having notches for receiving the studs on the other section, a hand lever having arms hinged to the links by which the section to whichthe links are hinged may be drawnto-inser-t the -bulbous end of one section into the socket of the other section; the ends of the arms of said lever interlocking with thestuds of the other section with a toggle action when the bulbous end isseated in the socket and the hand lever is folded against the other section, the pipe section having thebulbous end also having an enlarged portion constituting a shoulder near the bulbous end to coactwith the end, of the other section and form a stop to limit the angular tuming fpnesection-Qn the other section.

I I HUGH FRANCIS FENLO-N. 7 seamstress CiiE'l) V The following references are of record in the file ofthispatentr l V punis {#TATES PATENTS Number Name: Date 143,514 Kilbuin Oct; 7, 1873 543,871 I-Iouze Aug. 6, 1895 1,949,055 nambieiis shn-iii Feb. 27,1934 

